New here | ADHD Information
Hello
I just found the board and would really like to correspond with other parents. I ahve three sons. Two have ADHD as well as other issues. the middle child is close to 15 and is my most difficult child.
Without going into too much detail, I feel like somedays, I am at my wits end. The kids are on meds and good therapists are involved. My husband is a great help. However much of the time I am still in tears.
Right now I am looking for shoulders to lean on as well as offering both of my own.
Thanks in advance
Welcome to the board! You will find many friends here and a lot of support. What ages and meds, if any meds, and what are your main concerns?I have had such nice replies in a short time. Thanks so much. It means a lot. Especially tonight.
welcome aboard. u are not alone here. this message board is very useful and supportive. good luckWelcome teathymes.......if your looking for support, you have come to the right place. There is always someone here to help you through tough times and also celebrate the victories as wellHi,
My daughter who is 4 and a half has add, and is seeing the doctor for the first time next week. Any advice on the meds? I have adhd and take concerta i'm worried how some of the meds will work on her and if she has to swallow pills? Please help
Kristin
I just wanted to say Welcome, I'm sure you will find information and support here like I recently have;-) kristin, my ds is on Daytrana, which is a patch. No need to swallow pills and the release is even, with no dips. Ask your doctor about it. He can't give you samples, but can give you a card for 40 free patches. It has worked so well for us! Hello, I to just found this message board, but of coaurse we just got a
computer for christmas. I have wanted to talk to other parents with adhd/
ocd children. My son is 9, almost 10 in a few months. Everyday is a fresh
start/struggle. Being Mike's mom is a blessing and a challenge. I am
looking forward to the support and giving support to all those others out
there with a child like Mike.
Mike'smom
mike'smom39082.6245601852Hi welcome. I'm new too and hope to find support as well.
HI Stye
How old are your children?
[QUOTE=teathymes126]
HI Stye
How old are your children?
[/QUOTE]
One girl 6.
when my son was adderall xr it came in a capsule which he could not swallow for he was 4 so i opened the capsule and put it on vanilla ice cream in the spoon out of the small dixie cups then he could have the rest of the ice cream. if your child likes apple sauce or yougurt you could use it but my child only like the ice cream. as far as the meds they can be so trial and error. just watch for the side effects and if they seem not to work consult your doctor again
lesnathan39080.8740509259Thank you everyone for the kind support. My kids are 18, 14 1/2 and 13. The 18 year old is at college and is doing pretty well.
The 14 year old is on strattera. It worked pretty well. Last year we needed to wean him off because of a suspected side effect. It turned out that the side effect was completely unrelated. we noticed a big difference in his outbursts when he was not on the meds. I know that stattera is for ADHD, but the doctor suggested that instead of giving him meds for a mood disorder, that he try the adhd meds. This is when he was 10. We noticed a big difference right away.
I suspect that he needs a med update. I will be scheduling an appoinment for both of them.
the younger child has Tourette's syndrome as well as adhd and OCD. He is on strattera, zoloft, risperadal and cholondine.
There are several big issues. One is the badgering. I know that teens act out, but this often borders on emotional abuse. Another major problem is when my 14 year old refuses to do something. This can range from something as simple as a chore to homework or even refusing to leave the house when he doesn't want to participate in something. Luckily he does go to school without a problem.
Over the years we have tried positive reinforcers, negative ones ( taking away gameboy etc). They work for a short time but not for long. We have even tried just not reacting and using more natural consequences.
I do well for time. I say the right things and act the right way. But after awhile he wears me down. I either react badly or end up yelling or crying.
Again, my husband is very supportive and is really involved with the kids.
Thanks to all.
I am new to the board. Would like to chat with other parents that are in the same situation as myself.
I have a 11 yr old daughter that was diagnoised when she was in kindergarten with ADHD. I have her on medication.
My daughter has been aggressive since she was little and now I feel that it has caused her to not have as many friends and also the wrong ones at that. Not sure what to do.
I wonder do they ever grow out of this???? Sometimes I want to believe she is growing out of it and then other times I wonder what I was thinking.
Sometimes I feel so distraught because my child has ADHD and with that comes the frequently seen troubles which are talked about here. But when I get down about it, I remember that my friends with "normal" children have all kinds of issues to deal with too (i.e. extreme shyness) and that it's not always easy parenting any child. When I remind myself of this, I don't feel so alone and frustrated. Also, when times are hard, I try to remind myself of the great things about my child (even though he's not exhibiting them at the time!).
My daughter can be such a good kid and I really have to try and let her know that and maybe that would put on the right path to dealing with this issue.
I really wish I did not have to give her meds but she just dont seem to be herself without it.
My son can be so lovable and considerate and I try and remember that on the more trying days. Unfortunately, he has developed a habit of lying and will lie just about anything from cleaning of teeth (says he did it when he hasn't) to saying that he has no homework (when I know he has).
How do you guys deal with this if your child lies?
I tell my daughter that I will be checking with her teacher. And, then I tell well that is fine if you brushed your teeth you wont mind doing it again while I stand in the doorway and watch.
She does her homework she was at a point where she wont turn it in. I have cut her tv time in half or nothing.
Tabby, it does get better. My son was where yours is now. I cried for him because he didn't have any friends. As he matured he seemed to pick up on more social cues and that helped immensely. I have also explained how stuff that's obvious works. I started doing this after he told me his therapist explained to him how conversation is supposed to work. That was fifth grade and since then if I ever have a question as to whether he gets something or not, I'll explain it. He just recently went to a dance and danced the whole evening away. Ds is white and dances like a white boy, but that didn't stop him. None of the white girls would dance with him, but all the african american girls wanted to. Later the assistant principal told me that she went up to him toward the end and told him he'd better stop dancing before he did himself an injury. He just laughed and continued to dance. This never would have happened 3 years ago. Give your son a chance to grow and mature. It does get better. I promise.ADHD comes with an immaturity that causes them to lag behind thier peers by 1/3, so your 10 year old (and mine) acts like a 7 year old and needs to be coached in social skills in the same manner as a 7 year old.
My daughter's psychiatrist has placed my daughter on guanfacine to augment concerta. He has pointed out to me that school is not the only area that ADHD affects and although the impulsiveness and hyperactivity do not bother me, they are detrimental to my daughter's social development. The guanfacine has helped my daughter make and keep friends better. She even has after school homework dates (something I never thought would be posible).
It may be necessary to extend meds to cover some social time (if it does not affect sleep) and/or to see if social skills coaching is available. You might even look into things like cotillion, or other structured group activities.
Hi,
I just discovered this website yesterday. I've been in tears reading some of your stories and I can completely empathise. I have a 10yr old son who has been on Ritalin for a year now and I guess because it's the school holidays and I'm seeing him every day all day, I'm realising how challenging his ADHD is. It breaks my heart that the phone never rings for him with another child for a playdate. He only has one friend who is now moving to another state in 2 weeks. This boy has been his friend for one year and now he will have no-one. We invite kids to go to the movies but they all seem so much older, sophisticated in terms of conversation etc. and they never want to usually come back and play. He gets picked on at school for being quirky and often says to us that nobody likes him at school.
Is this how it's going to be for the rest of his life? I feel so sorry for him but he can be his own worst enemy with him impulsivity, silly remarks and inappropriate behaviour.
Does anyone have a positive spin on this for me 'cause I'm feeling really depressed. Thanks.
Hi teathymes
Welcome to the board. I really can empathise - even though we are making progress with my kids some days I really just feel like falling over and giving up the fight.
I do know that you'll find plenty of support here.
Don't be afraid to send a PM every now and then if you feel you need a chat.